I strongly suspect my female ferret, Cuddles, has Adrenal Gland disease. Starting last year, she has lost most of the hair on her tail. She also drinks her own pee, which I looked up and is a sign of Adrenal Gland disease. She is 8 years old. Since she is so old, she also has other issues that can either be from the disease or just be because she's old. Her hair all over her body has thinned(Though no bald spots other than her tail), she has bad cataracts, all of her canine teeth are broken(One is just a nub), she has less energy, and she has lost her ability to use her litter pan. Before last year, she never pooped outside of her litter pan. She might have lost a bit of weight too. It's hard for me to tell because she's an exceptionally small ferret and has never weighed much. She also has this odd bubble(Or abscess?) on the very tip of her tail. The bubble formed a few months ago and is hard too. Should I attempt to drain it or leave it be? Although I strongly suspect Adrenal Gland disease, I won't be taking her to the vet. With this disease, I have two options. Euthanasia or surgery. Cuddles is a very small female(Always has been) and because of that and her age, I know she won't make it through surgery. I don't want to euthanize her as long as she still has some quality of life, which she does still have despite her issues. When she stops getting excited when I let her out of her cage, I'll know it's time. Which brings me to why I made this thread. I love my ferret very much and I want her to be as comfortable as possible. I feed her the best ferret food that's available and I mix it with water to help her chew as well as I add in FerreTone to help her with her hair loss. I moved her out of her big, multileveled cage and into a small cage because her cataracts were making it hard for her to climb. I give her purified water as well. Is there anything else I can do to make life easier on her?

how about giving her some melatonin tablet?  This is  not expensive.  I give that to my little girl that is 8 years old.  She is showing signs of adrenal.  I give her 1 tablet (3mg) every morning in her soup.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nature-Made-Melatonin-Dietary-Supplement-Tablets-3mg-150-count/36168204

You can give melatonin (oral tablet or liquid, or implant), lupron injection or Suprelorin implant, or a combination. There are options.  Our Prissy is blind and deaf and just turned 8.  If she starts showing signs of adrenal we'd at least do melatonin.  I wouldn't opt for adrenal surgery even for a younger ferret, as it's not a cure, but just buys time.

It's nice that you moved her out of her big cage to make life easier.  What's funny about Prissy...she has never lived in our ferret nation cage because she hates cages, period.  But, she will find her way up the ramp into the cage to eat and drink from the water bottle there.  She still likes her treats and 

As for oral melatonin... You can get 3-5 mg pills from walmart for cheap.  Not expensive, and the ferts don't mind the taste.  Half a pill mixed with ferretone or any oil Cuddles might like, given mid day, will help some.  It's not gonna cure adrenal, but it can help with symptoms.  

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Hello and Welcome to the forum! I have had many adrenals. The first thing I do when I suspect it is the pill form of melatonin. As Wenmister said it's cheap and you can get it from Walmart. I also use the 3mg pill and crush it in the noon soupy. I also have them get either the one month or 3 month lupron shot. I have never opted for surgery no matter how old the ferret is. Even with surgery they end up on meds.  Keep us updated on your little one.

 
Fuzzbutts Rule!

My Ferngulley has adrenal disease also. He is 3 1/2 yrs old. I got him from a rrescue. He had been on the melatonin implant. Which did make him grow back his fur. Bit he still had days where he was less active and weight /muscle loss. We have just tried the Lupron injection.  He seems more active and generally feels better. I am pursing adrenal surgery on him. My question for some of you that have answered that surgery is not recommended,  can I get more clarity / info about it. Will I be doing the surgery for nothing?  I know it can come back in the other adrenal.i just don't know much about adrenal disease in ferrets. Thanks

Current fuzzies: Ferngulley , Clementine, Clyde , Casper, Rose

Plus: 6 rats, 4 cats, 3 dogs, 2 turtles

Sorry, silver wolf,  didn't mean to bury in with more questions. Just thought I'd ask while on the subject 😊

Current fuzzies: Ferngulley , Clementine, Clyde , Casper, Rose

Plus: 6 rats, 4 cats, 3 dogs, 2 turtles

I have never opted for surgery for adrenal because surgery is very hard on these babies. I have had an occasional MCT( mast cell tumor) removed. The only other surgeries I have put my babies through is ones for blockage and/or surgeries that were because of life threatening circumstances. In other words it was their only chance at survival. Every ferret I have ever heard of that had the surgery alwaysended up on the meds anyway. Why not put the surgery money toward the meds. The melatonin I buy at Walmart (3mg pills) you get 120 in a bottle for about $8. The lupron (which varies depending on your vet) costs me about $40 for the monthly and $50 for the 3 month. I have one that the monthly last him about 3 months and the 3 month lasts the other about 4 months.  I think each baby is in differrent stages and that why they work on them the way they do. I also know of people who have had the surgery for not only adrenal but insulinoma and were sorry because the baby didn't survive after surgery. Some do survive but I can't take that chance with my babies. If it can be managed with meds that's the way I go. I hope this helps you Silverwolf and fuzzyferngully.

 
Fuzzbutts Rule!